Ventilated horse collar cushion



3am. 3, 93@ F, M. HEATH VENTILATED HORSE COLLAR CUSHION original Filed April 14,

2 .Sheet-#Sheet l F. M. HEATH VENTILATED HORSE COLLAR CUSHION Original Filed April 14, i953 2 .SHSSLS-Shf' Jan. 3, 1933.

Patented Jan. 3, 1933 PATENT FFQE FRANK M. HEATH, OF SILVER SPBNG, MARYLAND VENTILATED HORSE COLLAR CUSHION Original application filed April 14, 1931, Serial No. 530,036. Patent No. 1,840,197, granted January 5, 1932.

Divided and this application led December 7, 1931.

rlhis invention aims to provide a novel means for Ventilating the upper end oil a horse collar, and for Ventilating the upper end of the cushion, it a cushion is used.

t is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement ot parts and in the details ot construction hereinafter' described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without de` parting from the spirit of the invention.

ln the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. l shows in elevation, a horse collar equipped with the Ventilating means :torming the subject matter ot this application, parts being in section;

Fig. 2 is an elevation wherein the horse collar is vi-ewed edgewise, parts being in section;

Fig. 3 is a cross section;

Fig. 4 is a plan or' one of the pad plates;

Fig. 5 is a section taken approximately on the line 5-5 oi Fig. il, but showing a slight modification Fig. 6 is an elevation of the pad and the Ventilating plates, as disclosed in Figs. l and 2, but detached from the horse collar, parts being in section.

ln Figs. l and 2, the numeral l marks a horse collar ot any desired kind, having a. haine roll 2, the relatively movable upper ends of the collar being connected by a clasp 3, or equivalent device. One or both sides of the horse collar are supplied with a transverse tongue 4, having a ree end, as shown in Fig. 3.

The sweat pad or cushion C embodies yieldable side members 5, the lower ends 6 of Serial No. 579,557.

which are spaced, as shown in l. The upper ends of the side members 5 ot the cushion C are bound between an upper plate 7 and a lower plate 8. rlhe plates 7 and 8 are curved both longitudinally and transversely, as a comparision of Figs. l and 2 will show, and they are made of Zinc or some other metal, or combination of metals, which will not rust, or corrode with sweat. Rivets 9 or the like (Fig. l) connect the plates Z and S with the upper ends oit the side members 5 or" the cushion C, and the lo ver edges of the plates are turned toward each other, as at l0, to acquire a iirm hold on the side members of the cushion. Spacers 50, ot tubular form, may be interposed between the plates 7 and 8, the spacers being mounted on the securing devices or rivets 9. rIhe plates 'l' and 8 are somewhat wider than the side members 5 ot the cushion C, as Fig. 2 will show. Fig. l discloses that the upper plate 7 is provided with V-shaped, upstanding ribs ll, having their apices disposed near to the center of the plate.

ldlhen the horse is working, there is a roeling movement ot the cushion C, alternately, with respect to each shoulder, and adequa'e ventilation thus is provided at the shoulders. There is no corresponding ventilation at the neck, because the collar has no similar rocking movement there. As a consequence, sore or scald-ed necks result, when ordinary cushions or sweat pads are used. The noncorrosive plates 7 8, being spaced apart, to afford ventilation, and the cushion is made cool and sanitary at the neck.

The lower plate 8 bears on the neck throughout a progressively increasing area, from the center line outwardly, in opposite directions, due to the weight of the wegen tongue, the hames or the like. rhe plate 8 is a ready and effective conductor of heat, and as the air passes between the plates 7 and 8, ventilation is provided, and the pad is kept cool at the top, and there is no smothering of the neck.

Dust may accumulate on the plate 7, and water will find its Way, in a rainstorm, into the cushion 5, if the plate 7 is not employed. As a result, the cushion C becomeswet, waterlogged, non-absorbent, soggy, and hard, and its function, therefore, as a cushioning means, is impaired accordingly. In the device forming the subject matter of this application,

rain water finding its way on the plate 7, out-1 wardly of the ribs ll, will be carried laterally by the ribs, and, as shown in Fig. 2, will be discharged clear of the pad or cushion C.

No valid objection lcan be raised against making the plates 7 and 8 of metal, because the plates are located well ahead of the spine; andabove the vertibrae of theneck, there lies a large amount of heavy muscle, which is directly below the plate 8, this mass of muscle forming a natural, flexible cushion. The plate 8 does not tend to crowd the neck inwardly, from the sides toward the center,

y but bears on fthe neck, with -a progressively increasing area, from the center Vtoward the sides, advantage being taken of the natural muscular cushion vof the neck, and that natural muscular cushion yremaining rflexible and unimpaired. By progressively increasing area, I mean that the harder the plate 8 presses down, the larger will the area of contact between the plate andfthe horses neck become.

The side members 5 of the cushion G may carry spring clips 12,:engaging the haine roll 2. These clips do'not prevent the cushion from imoving longitudinally. Those who wish to keep the cushion ',frommoving longitudinally canfplace .a strap 14 on the cushion and connect the .strap with the tongue4 by means of a fastener 18, and other means to the same end may be provided. This is a feature Whichneednot be further explained and discussed here, .because it iscovered in my patent forfa `horse collar cushion, No. 1,840,197, grantedJanuary 5, 193.2,.thepresent application disclosing matter divided out of said patent, it beingpossible to use alone, either the device'shownin the patent or the Ventilating means shown in this present ;application, or to use the two together.

In the mo-dicationshown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, parts hereinbefore described have been designated' by numerals previously used,

with the suliix a. "In this modification, the

cushion membersoFig. 1 aredispensed with, and the Ventilating deviceattachedto the horse collar by straps 51, or other suitable means, `engaged through :the spacedholders 52'on the upper surface of the plate 7a.

What is claimed 4is:- 'l

1. Ahorse collar vcushion comprising side members connected lat their upper ends by a plate :having .laterallysextended .water-devedges of the cushion.

assembled with and joining the upper ends of the side members, the plates being spaced to afford ventilation, the upper plate having laterally-extended water-deliecting means which discharges clear of the longitudinal In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signature.

FRANK M. HEATH. 

